The festival programme #Hiqff36
How do you plan a festival in times like these? Wars and crises are raging around the world, and the situation in Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine and other parts of the globe is devastating and unbearable. In Germany, things are taking a turn for the worse: the federal government is becoming more hostile, Pride events are being cancelled... No reason to celebrate, but definitely a reason to show solidarity and fight back. In times like these, we need determination, we must be resilient, vigilant and persistent.
This resilience is also reflected in the films in this year's programme: the opening film from Iran (info below) and our invited curators are all experienced in resistance: We look forward to the films, voices and perspectives of the PEMBE HAYAT KUIR FEST from Turkey, the KAZE FILM FESTIVAL from Rwanda and the SAQMI – The Swedish Archive for Queer Moving Images.
And we look forward to the exchange in the Let's Talk formats and in many conversations in and in front of the cinemas, in the Tagbar or in the OFFBAR.
We have put together a brief overview of the programme for the 36th HIQFF for you below. We look forward to many interesting personal encounters and a glittering opening gala at Kampnagel!
With our TIMETABLE, you can plan your individual festival programme, save it and export it to your digital calendar.
As always, you can navigate through the individual days of the festival week and select by venue. All times and information on language versions and sign language interpreting can be found under the respective film. Brand new for you: our filter option by language – making it even easier for you to find the right film.
This year’s festival motif was designed by Stef Mosebach.
Opening at Kampnagel: EBOW
Let's kick off the festival week together with ‘Purr-fect’! We are more than happy that the exceptional German-Kurdish artist Ebow will be rocking the stage with her queer anthems (you know: she's LESBIAN). With five albums released to date, she is one of the most innovative voices in German rap. She flexes her brainpower and campaigns for the LGBTQIA+ community and against misogyny and racism. In turbulent times, she wants to show us that no message is more important than love itself.
This year, Amina Balajo and Lady Sasha will guide us through the opening gala. Amina is convinced that queer cinema is an important part of queer identity formation – that's why she wrote her master's thesis on the subject and has been part of the festival team for two years. Lady Sasha enchants Hamburg with her performances: whether in the book halls, where she reads stories about the power of diversity to children, or during her drag tours in the Kunsthalle. For the community, she is not only an artist, but also a voice and presence that inspires courage.
Opening film: The Crowd
After a break, the programme continues with the German premiere of the Iranian opening film THE CROWD by Sahand Kabiri.
We immerse ourselves in a young, close-knit community, the sort of community that could only form in the face of external pressure. It is dedicated to the most beautiful aspects of resistance and hope – because THE CROWD wants to party! It is also time to say goodbye: to a deceased friend and to Raman, who is leaving Iran. But first they have to get past Raman’s brother, who represents the regime and is full of hatred towards Raman and his way of life.
The event will be held in German and English. The film has German and English subtitles.
LET'S TALK!
Our three LET'S TALK events offer different topics to get people talking to each other. At LET'S TALK QUEER FILM INDUSTRY, we want to strengthen the queer film community in Hamburg, celebrate stories that grow outside the mainstream, and make new connections.
LET'S TALK FESTIVALS provides opportunities to exchange ideas with other queer film festivals and discuss specific challenges, strategies, and visions, including with our international guests from Ankara and Rwanda.
LET'S TALK!
Pride season is almost over, and there were even more CSD demonstrations this year than last year. In 2024, 40% of these CSD demonstrations were threatened, attacked, or otherwise disrupted by right-wing extremist counter-events.
In many cases, the organization and self-protection of participants relies on anti-fascist structures. At the same time, anti-fascist activities are increasingly being criminalized. With representatives from local anti-fascist groups in Dresden and Hamburg, we would like to talk about how these challenges can be overcome and how local perspectives can complement each other at LET'S TALK QUEER ANTIFA.
Cooperative programmes
With bildwechsel, you can immerse yourself in the 80s and 90s: At the TIPSFRISCH SOUND & VIDEO INSTALLATION in their own premises at Kirchenallee 25 (unfortunately not wheelchair accessible), you can get an insight into the FLINTA* News podcast of that time – via answering machine.
The PEMBE HAYAT KUIRFEST shows a short film program that encourages the creation of LGBTQIA+ films in Turkey, focusing on safe spaces, grief, queer nightlife, the progress of the feminist movement in Turkey, and the lives of trans* people. This is accompanied by the documentary BELLEKVARi about the history of Kuirfest – up to its ban in 2024.
Cooperative Programmes
The artists of the KAZE FILM FESTIVAL, founded by the Kigali Pride Initiative, highlight Rwandan stories of tenderness and resilience in their program QUEER AFRICA: SHIFTING GAZES. It consists of the feature film I AM SAMUEL and the short film program FRAGMENTS OF US.
SAQMI – The Swedish Archive for Queer Moving Images presents its short film program SÁMI QUEER MOVING IMAGES – IMAGINE SÁPMI about Sámi queerness, historical, contemporary, and perspective.
HIQFF@school - QUEER Education 2025
Now in its eighth year, our school programme is a matter close to our hearts: queer films for the next generation. This year's HIQFF school program is once again a good opportunity for teachers and other school professionals to address topics related to sexual and gender diversity in the classroom and in everyday school life.
During the festival, Hamburg school children can experience LGBTIQ* stories on the big screen together with their classes and then discuss the topics of the films with guests. A great opportunity for teachers to bring queer topics into the classroom. We want to counteract the queer hostility that also exists in schools and inform and empower children and young people.
daybar & offbar
Here you can also meet people outside the cinemas during the day and in the evening to talk shop about films or simply have a drink:
daybar
at the Kante, with coffee, cake and pink sparkling wine! The place to meet people - before and between films. Open: Tue - Sun: 10.00-20.00, Wohlwillstr. 54.
offbar
Friday from 10:30 pm, and Saturday/Sunday from 9pm, Open end on Friday and Saturday. Where? To be announced.
For a quick overview
The Timetable as a pdf to print out - all events on one page.
You can also use the alphabetical listing to access this year’s short or feature-length films individually: Films A–Z.
Those who crave more detail can access the pdf version of our complete festival brochure here.